Light guide plate structure with inlaid block-shaped light scattering elements protruding out bottom and back light module

ABSTRACT

A structure of a light guide plate comprising a light guide plate and a plurality of transparent elements is disclosed. The light guide plate comprises at least one light incident surface, a light scattering surface and a light emitting surface. The light scattering surface has a plurality of notches and these transparent elements are disposed therein. The transparent elements refractive index is different from that of the light guide plate. By disposing these transparent elements, the light scattering surface can improve light scattering effect. In addition, a back light module comprising a linear light source and a light guide plate structure mentioned above is also disclosed. The linear light source is disposed next to the light incident surface of the light guide plate.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a light guide plate structure and aback light module, and more particularly to a light guide platestructure for improving scattering effects on a light scattering surfaceand a back light module applied therefrom.

2. Description of the Related Art

For the trend of small sizes of electronic products, the development ofelectronic devices is toward high density and integrity in small sizeelectronic products. Because a variety of functions embodied withinelectronic products with small sizes, a large number of portable deviceshave been popularly used and replaced the big sized electronic products.Therefore, they have become the main stream in consumer market. Theseportable devices includes, such as notebooks, cell phones, electronicdictionaries, personal digital assistants, web pads, tablet PC andportable games.

For the application of small size electronic products, liquid crystaldisplays (LCD) with high efficiency of space, high quality, low powerconsumption and low or no radiation have been popularly used. LCD iscomposed of a liquid crystal panel and a back light module. Becauseliquid crystal within the panel does not illuminate itself, the backlight modules must provide a plate light source for the panel. Then, LCDserves the function of display. Therefore, back light modules are veryimportant in displays.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional schematic drawing showing a prior art backlight module. Referring to FIG. 1, the back light module 100 includes alight guide plate 110, a linear light source 120 and a reflective cover130. The light guide plate 110 is, for example, a plate-type light guideplate, which comprises at least one light incident surface 112, a lightscattering surface 114 and a light emitting surface 116. The lightincident surface 112 is on a sidewall of the light guide plate 110, thelight scattering surface 114 is on a bottom surface of the light guideplate 110 and the light emitting surface 116 is on a top surface of thelight guide plate 110.

The linear light source 120 is, for example, a cold cathode florescentlamp, which is disposed next to the light incident surface 112 of thelight guide plate 110, wherein light from the linear light source 120transmits through the light incident surface 112 and enters into thelight guide plate 110, and the light scattering surface 114 passes thelight to the light emitting surfaces 116 and out thereof.

Additionally, the reflective cover 130 is disposed next to the lightincident surface 112 of the light guide plate 110 and covers the linearlight source 120 for reflecting light from the linear light source 120to the light incident surface 112 of the light guide plate 110.

Referring to FIG. 1, the light scattering surface 114 of the light guideplate 110 provides a enough scattering area. Therefore, light from thelinear light source 120 after being scattered on the light scatteringsurface 114 can uniformly travel to the light emitting surface 116, andthe light exiting form the light emitting surface 116 transforms into aplate light source. It should be noted that a plurality of transparentbumps 140 are disposed on the light scattering surface 114 as scatteringspots thereof in prior art. The transparent bumps 140, however, are madeof the same material of the light guide plate 110 and have the samerefractive index as the light guide plate 110. Therefore, the scatteringeffect on the light scattering surface is limited.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic drawing showing a prior art backlight module. Referring to FIG. 2, a back light module 100′ has the samestructure as the back light module 100 described in FIG. 1. The samedescriptions will not be repeated herein. The difference between thesetwo back light modules is that a plurality of holes 150 are formed onthe light scattering surface 114′ serving as scattering spots thereon.However, in the prior art back light module light still transports inthe same material. Therefore, the scattering effect on the lightscattering surface 114′ is limited.

From the descriptions mentioned, the prior art back light module byforming either transparent bumps or holes on the light scatteringsurface of the light guide plate cannot provide excellent scatteringeffect and a uniform plate light source because of back scatteringeffects thereon.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In an embodiment of the present invention, a of a light guide platestructure, having a plurality of notches on a light scattering surfaceand disposing a plurality of transparent elements therein, is providedto improve the scattering effect thereof, wherein the refractive indexof the plurality of transparent elements is different form that of theplurality of the light guide plate.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a back light module isprovided to generate a better scattering effect on a scattering lightsurface and a plurality of notches are formed on the light scatteringsurface of the light guide plate and a plurality of transparent elementsare disposed therein to provide a more uniform plate light source,wherein the refractive index of the plurality of transparent isdifferent form that of the plurality of the light guide plate.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a light guide platestructure applied to a back light module and adapted to transform alinear light source into a plate light source. The guide light sourcestructure comprises a light guide plate and a plurality of transparentelements. The light guide plate comprises at least one light incidentsurface, light scattering surface and a light emitting surface. Thelight incident surface is on a sidewall of the light guide plate, thelight scattering surface is on a bottom surface of the light guide plateand the light emitting surface is on a top surface of the light guideplate, wherein the light scattering surface has a plurality of notches.The plurality of transparent elements are disposed within the pluralityof notches and a reflective index of the plurality of transparentelements is different from that of the light guide plate.

The present invention provides a back light module adapted to provide aplate light source. The back light module comprises a light guide platestructure and a linear light source. The guide light source structurecomprises a light guide plate and a plurality of transparent elements.The light guide plate comprises at least one light incident surface,light scattering surface and a light emitting surface. The lightincident surface is on a sidewall of the light guide plate, the lightscattering surface is on a bottom surface of the light guide plate andthe light emitting surface is on a top surface of the light guide plate,wherein the light scattering surface has a plurality of notches. Theplurality of transparent elements is disposed within the plurality ofnotches and a reflective index of the plurality of transparent elementsis different from that of the light guide plate. The linear light sourceis next to the light incident surface of the light guide plate, whereinlight from the linear light source transports the light incident surfaceand enters into the light guide plate, and the light scattering surfacepasses the light to the light emitting surfaces and out thereof.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, these transparentelements are made of transparent material, such as glass or acrylic. Inaddition, the light guide plate is a plate-type light guide plate or amesa light guide plate. When the light plate is a mesa light guideplate, the plurality of transparent elements have different sizes, theplurality of transparent elements are disposed on the light scatteringsurface in sequence by the size thereof, and bottom surfaces of theplurality of transparent elements are substantially on a same surface.Therefore, the mesa light guide plate can be firmly disposed on aplastic frame. Moreover, the linear light source is, for example, a coldcathode florescent lamp.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the back light modulefurther comprises a reflective cover, which is disposed next to thelight incident surface of the light guide plate and covers the linearlight source for reflecting light from the linear light source to thelight incident surface of the light guide plate. In order to improveluminance of the back light module, a diffusion sheet and a brightnessenhancement film can be applied thereto. In the embodiment, thediffusion sheet can be disposed, for example, on the light emittingsurface of the light guide plate, and the brightness enhancement filmcan be disposed on the diffusion sheet.

In the present invention, the plurality of notches are formed on thelight scattering surface of the light guide plate and the plurality oftransparent elements are disposed within the notches. In addition, therefractive index of these transparent elements is different from that ofthe light guide plate. When light comes into and goes out thesetransparent elements through the light guide plate, a better scatteringeffect is achieved and the back light module of the present inventionprovides a more uniform plate light source because of the refractiveindex difference between these transparent elements and the light guideplate.

In order to make the aforementioned and other objects, features andadvantages of the present invention understandable, a preferredembodiment accompanied with figures is described in detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional schematic drawing showing a prior art backlight module.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic drawing showing a prior art backlight module.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic drawing showing a first preferredback light module in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic drawing showing a second preferredback light module in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic drawing showing a first preferredback light module in accordance with the present invention. Pleasereferring to FIG. 3, the back light module 200 comprises a light guideplate structure 300 and a linear light source 210. The light guide platestructure 300 is composed of a light guide plate 310 and a plurality oftransparent elements 312. The light guide plate 310 is, for example, aplate-type light guide plate, which comprises at least one lightincident surface 312, light scattering surface 314 and light emittingsurface 316. The light incident surface 312 is on a sidewall of thelight guide plate 310, the light scattering surface 314 is on a bottomsurface of the light guide plate 310 and the light emitting surface 316is on a top surface of the light guide plate 310, wherein the lightscattering surface 314 has a plurality of notches 318.

The plurality of transparent elements 320 are made of transparentmaterial, such as glass or acrylic, which are separately disposed withinthe plurality of notches 318 as scattering spots of the light scatteringsurface 314. Moreover, a reflective index of the plurality oftransparent elements 320 is different from that of the light guide plate310.

The linear light source 210 is, for example, a cold cathode florescentlamp, which is disposed next to the light incident surface 312 of thelight guide plate 310, wherein light from the linear light source 210transmits through the light incident surface 312 and enters into thelight guide plate 310, and the light scattering surface 314 passes thelight to the light emitting surfaces 316 and out thereof.

In addition, the back light module 200 further comprises a reflectivecover 220, which is disposed next to the light incident surface 312 ofthe light guide plate 310 and covers the linear light source 210 forreflecting light from the linear light source to the light incidentsurface 312 of the light guide plate 310. In order to improve luminanceof the back light module 200, a diffusion sheet 230 and a brightnessenhancement film 240 can be applied thereto. In the embodiment, thediffusion sheet 230 can be disposed, for example, on the light emittingsurface 316 of the light guide plate 310, and the brightness enhancementfilm 240 can be disposed on the diffusion sheet 230.

It is to be noted that the plurality of notches 318 are formed on thelight scattering surface 314 of the light guide plate 310 and theplurality of transparent elements 320 are disposed within the notches318. In addition, the refractive index of these transparent elements 320is different that of the light guide plate 310. When light comes intoand goes out these transparent elements 320 through the light guideplate 310, a better scattering effect is achieved and the back lightmodule 200 of the present invention provides a more uniform plate lightsource because of the refractive index difference between thesetransparent elements 320 and the light guide plate 310.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic drawing showing a second preferredback light module in accordance with the present invention. A back lightmodule 200′ has the same structure as the back light module 200described in the first preferred embodiment. The same descriptions willnot be repeated. The difference between the first and the secondembodiments is that the light guide plate 310′ is, for example, a mesalight guide plate. The plurality of transparent elements 320′ havedifferent sizes, the plurality of transparent elements 320′ are disposedinto the notches 318′ on the light scattering surface 314′ in sequenceby the size thereof, and bottom surfaces of the plurality of transparentelements 320′ are substantially on a same surface. Therefore, the mesalight guide plate can be firmly disposed on a plastic frame (not shown)for improving the convenience of assembling the back light module.

From the descriptions mentioned above, in the present invention theplurality of notches are formed on the light scattering surface of thelight guide plate and the plurality of transparent elements are disposedwithin the notches for serving as scattering spots on the lightscattering surface. In addition, the refractive index of thesetransparent elements is different that of the light guide plate. Whenlight comes into and goes out these transparent elements through thelight guide plate, a better scattering effect is achieved and the backlight module of the present invention provides a more uniform platelight source because of the refractive index difference between thesetransparent elements and the light guide plate.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of exemplaryembodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claimsshould be constructed broadly to include other variants and embodimentsof the invention which may be made by those skilled in the field of thisart without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of theinvention.

1. A light guide plate structure comprising: a light guide plate,comprising at least one light incident surface, a light scatteringsurface and a light emitting surface, wherein the light incident surfaceis on a sidewall of the light guide plate, the light scattering surfaceis on a bottom surface of the light guide plate, and the light emittingsurface is on a top surface of the light guide plate, and wherein thelight scattering surface has a plurality of notches extending up fromunderneath the bottom surface of the light guide plate; and a pluralityof transparent element structures associated with the plurality ofnotches and having solid side walls continuously extending between firstand second surfaces so that the first surfaces are within the pluralityof notches and the second surfaces are outside the bottom surface of thelight guide plate, wherein a refractive index of the plurality oftransparent element structures is different from that of the light guideplate.
 2. The light guide plate structure of claim 1, wherein theplurality of transparent element structures comprises rectangular shapedglass or an acrylic material.
 3. The light guide plate structure ofclaim 1, wherein: the plurality of transparent element structures eachcomprise flat top ends that extend up into the notches above the bottomsurface of the light guide plate and flat bottom ends that extend downunderneath the bottom surface of the light guide plate; the plurality oftransparent element structures have different sizes; the plurality oftransparent element structures are disposed on the light scatteringsurface at least partially in sequence by size; and the bottom surfacesof the plurality of transparent element structures are substantiallycoplanar.
 4. The light guide plate structure of claim 1, wherein thefirst surfaces are adapted to reflect light incident from the lightincident surface, and the second surfaces are adapted to reflect lightthat has transmitted through the first surfaces.
 5. A back light for adisplay, comprising: a light guide plate structure, comprising: a lightguide plate, comprising at least one light incident surface, a lightscattering surface, and a light emitting surface, wherein the lightincident surface is on a sidewall of the light guide plate, the lightscattering surface is on a bottom surface of the light guide plate, andthe light emitting surface is on a top surface of the light guide plate,and wherein the light scattering surface has a plurality of notches; aplurality of solid block-shaped transparent element structures disposedwithin the plurality of notches, wherein a refractive index of theplurality of transparent element structures is different from that ofthe light guide plate, and wherein the plurality of transparent elementstructures includes at least one surface that is outside of theplurality of notches and outside of the light guide plate structure; anda linear light source next to the light incident surface of the lightguide plate.
 6. The back light of claim 5, wherein the plurality oftransparent element structures comprises a glass or an acrylic material.7. The back light of claim 5, wherein the light guide plate is a mesalight guide plate, the plurality of transparent element structures havedifferent sizes, the plurality of transparent element structures aredisposed on the light scattering surface at least partially in sequenceby size, and bottom surfaces of the plurality of transparent elementstructures are substantially coplanar.
 8. The back light of claim 5,wherein the transparent element structures comprise: flat top ends thatinsert into the notches above the bottom surface of the light guideplate; flat bottom ends that extend down below the bottom surface of thelight guide plate; and parallel side walls that extend from the flat topends to the flat bottom ends.
 9. The back light of claim 8, wherein thebottom surface extends out away from the light incident surface at anupwardly inclining angle toward the light emitting surface and thebottom surface is located progressively higher up on the parallel sidewalls of the transparent element structures as the transparent elementstructures are located farther away from the light incident surface. 10.The back light of claim 5, wherein the notches have rectangular shapesand the transparent element structures have rectangular shapes that sitinside the rectangular-shaped notches.
 11. A back light module,comprising: a plurality of block-shaped solid and transparent elementsattached to inside notches formed on a bottom surface of a light guideplate, wherein the transparent elements have a refractive indexdifferent from a refractive index for the light guide plate, and whereinthe plurality of transparent elements include at least one surfaceextending outside of the plurality of notches and outside of the lightguide plate; means for scattering a light against the bottom surface ofthe light guide plate; and means for emitting the scattered light upthrough a top surface of the light guide plate.
 12. The back lightmodule of claim 11, further comprising means for outputting a linearlight source through a light incident surface and against the bottomsurface of the light guide plate.
 13. The back light module of claim 12,wherein the linear light source is a cold cathode fluorescent lamp. 14.The back light module of claim 12, wherein the light incident surfaceforms a sidewall of the light guide plate.
 15. The plate light source ofclaim 11, wherein each of the plurality of transparent elementscomprises a first solid end extending up into an associated one of thenotches in the bottom surface of the light guide plate and a secondsolid end extending out of the associated one of the notches below thebottom surface of the light guide plate.